Wool or Fleece?

[Roger Norris]

Wool over fleece everytime. Fleece makes me sweat, it doesn't breath ANYTHING like wool.

We have some fleece blankets around the house, they are certainly "fuzzy" and feel good against your skin, but don't be fooled. It is basically wrapping yourself in plastic.

I have wool thin enough to wear on a warmish day, through the thick stuff good for the arctic. No single garment can do everything, but a bowhunter in the midwest can get away with light and medium wool and layer properly.

[Smithhammer]

Good quality wool, hands down. In addition to all the other qualities noted, it doesn't retain odors like synthetics.

But keep in mind that there can be a world of difference between good wool and cheap wool.

[TJK68]

WOOL, No question!!!

[NoCams]

Read Russ Clagett's post above..... as dumb as our govt is even they know the choice is wool when it comes right down to it.

As others have mentioned about rain and wool, I am not a fan of wearing a wool outer layer if it is going to be a steady rain. I wear a rain suit over my wool. I am fat enough already don't want to weigh 300lbs with my wool full of water. If I got caught in a light rain for a normal morning or evening sit in wool only I would still be fine. JMHO

[sticksnstones]

FLEECE IS PERFECT (for sitting around camp.) For being outside, start with a wool jacket and hat to protect core temps. Also I wear wool socks so I've built up a nice selection of thicknesses to pick from in the morning.
Thom

[lpcjon2]

I think it depends on the environment that you hunt in. Both have a place in keeping you warm and dry but within a 20 degree difference you could freeze in one and sweat to death in another. So buy both and learn how to incorporate them both in your hunting.JMHO

[pdk25]

I just got my first good wool jacket last week so I am reserving judgement. If you are sitting in very cold dead quiet conditions, nothing(including wool) is more quiet on the draw for a close animal than fleece. Performance when wet isn't as big of a concern for me. I don't hunt in the rain typically, and when I do, I use an outer rainproof layer. The quiet factor is not as big of an issue in the rain for me. That being said, maybe I will change my mind with wearing my new wool.

[nutmeg]

I've used both exstensively and I like fleece. But, wool rules and wins out over the fleece most of the time.(nut)

[Night Wing]

To pick only "one", it's wool.

[ron w]

WOOL......the only thing better is another layer of it. It's silent, warm and even retains heat when wet. Buy the best you can afford...but even cheap wool is better than no wool!!

[Ragnarok Forge]

Wool.  Particularly in wet weather. Wool retains up to 84 % of your body heat when wet.   Wet fleece actually pulls heat from your body.

[Randy Koleno]

I use both. I had a pair of black and red checkered Woolrich pants years ago, (they uuhhh shrunk since then) that I loved winter hunting in. Now, I use mostly fleece. I do plan on checking out the Asbell wool stuff at Denton Hill this year.

[Dan Adair]

I use a lot of wool.  From my base layer to insulation layer.

I have a reallove for Merino Wool.  Mostly from Smartwool, Icebreaker and Ibex Shak

[Kevin Hansen]

I definitely prefer wool. For me wool has a certain natural "warm" feel to it. I'm not talking about its insulative properties, but rather an inviting, comforting warmth. I find wool to be cool when needed and warm when the temps dip.
Fleece on the other hand seems to roast me or leave me with a chill. When I have worn fleece I put off a horrific odor almost immediately.
Another huge plus to wool is the safety factor when around camp fires or hot stoves. Fleece can be very nasty in those situations!
Bottom line...I prefer natural fabrics across the board.

[ChuckC]

wool.  no doubt.  Did all the fleece a long time ago.    Wool
ChuckC

[cacciatore]

I love to layer with wool,sometimes in mild weather i use fleece because the pattern you can find,but the underlayers are always of wool.

[USN_Sam1385]

Fleece all the way. But I will be in the minority. It HAS TO BE GOOD FLEECE though. I am talking the waterproof, gortex, wind-shear, silent stuff. IMO the really good technology with the fleece trumps wool any day of the week.

People will say that wool is warm when it get's wet. I agree, but waterproof fleece won't get wet, period. Also wind cuts through wool in my experience, and you can not machine wash it like fleece.

[bentpole]

I'm real fond of Wool!  

[Bishop]

Some wool can go right in a washer. My KOM has been through many times.

[NoCams]

USN Sam 1385,
Agree with you on the high performance liners in fleece. However, you can also get those in wool these days too. I love my GWW vest that is lined with Conformax windliner. NO WIND gets thru it. No need to wash wool, just hang it out to air out and use a brush to brush away dried mud. JMHO